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Sidesplitter: How to Be from Two Worlds at Once
One of the UK's brightest and best comedians takes an incisive look at race and belonging.
But where are you really from?
Phil Wang has been asked this question so many times he's lost count. So, finally, he decided to write a book about it. About how to be from two places at once.
Phil was born in the UK, in Stoke-on-Trent to an English mother and a Chinese-Malaysian father. Three weeks after his birth, the Wang family returned to his father's hometown in Malaysia, and at age 16, Phil was uprooted once again, to return with his family to the UK.
In Sidesplitter, Phil reflects on race, belonging and cultural cachet, bringing his trademark cynicism and wit to topics that range from food and comedy to empire and colonialism.
But where are you really from?
Phil Wang has been asked this question so many times he's lost count. So, finally, he decided to write a book about it. About how to be from two places at once.
Phil was born in the UK, in Stoke-on-Trent to an English mother and a Chinese-Malaysian father. Three weeks after his birth, the Wang family returned to his father's hometown in Malaysia, and at age 16, Phil was uprooted once again, to return with his family to the UK.
In Sidesplitter, Phil reflects on race, belonging and cultural cachet, bringing his trademark cynicism and wit to topics that range from food and comedy to empire and colonialism.
Audible Audio
First published September 14, 2021
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 156 reviews
October 15, 2021
Rounded up from around 3.5 stars ⭐️ This was my first ever audiobook but it will definitely not be my last!
Sidesplitter is non-fiction book by Phil Wang based on various topics. Although it’s definitely not a memoir as he makes very clear!
I’m not usually a non-fiction reader! I struggle with taking it in and staying focused when it’s on paper but I thoroughly enjoyed this! I think I’ll choose to listen to memoirs/non-fiction books from now on! I loved the way that Phil was able to use his comedy expertise to inject some fun into his narration of the book. I’m not sure some of the jokes would have come across as well on paper.
Not only did this book make me laugh out loud in some places (especially the cow part!) it also made me think very deeply. The book covers topics such as racism, history and family. I learnt about things that happen to people of other races/mixed race that I never knew about before. It really widened my understanding of what they have to face. But it did this in a way that was not overly preachy, it was lighthearted and comical whilst still highlighting the importance of the topic.
I would recommend this to anyone that loves Phil Wang’s jokes or who likes comical non-fiction books. The only reason it wasn’t a higher rating is because these books are not really my thing, it is not in any way I reflection of the book itself! I still enjoyed this much more than others I’ve read! I want to thank tandem collective and Hodder books for allowing me to read this book and give my personal thoughts!
Sidesplitter is non-fiction book by Phil Wang based on various topics. Although it’s definitely not a memoir as he makes very clear!
I’m not usually a non-fiction reader! I struggle with taking it in and staying focused when it’s on paper but I thoroughly enjoyed this! I think I’ll choose to listen to memoirs/non-fiction books from now on! I loved the way that Phil was able to use his comedy expertise to inject some fun into his narration of the book. I’m not sure some of the jokes would have come across as well on paper.
Not only did this book make me laugh out loud in some places (especially the cow part!) it also made me think very deeply. The book covers topics such as racism, history and family. I learnt about things that happen to people of other races/mixed race that I never knew about before. It really widened my understanding of what they have to face. But it did this in a way that was not overly preachy, it was lighthearted and comical whilst still highlighting the importance of the topic.
I would recommend this to anyone that loves Phil Wang’s jokes or who likes comical non-fiction books. The only reason it wasn’t a higher rating is because these books are not really my thing, it is not in any way I reflection of the book itself! I still enjoyed this much more than others I’ve read! I want to thank tandem collective and Hodder books for allowing me to read this book and give my personal thoughts!
October 4, 2021
"I think about race a lot because I have no choice. The child of a white woman and an Asian man, the subject of race has always been a part of my life and it always will be."
A really fascinating, funny look at how growing up with a white British mother and a Malasian father has helped shape Phil Wang's views on family, food and race among other things.
It's not a topic I've ever thought of, as a middle class white boy, so it's refreshing to get such an honest view on what it's like not only to stand out as a Malaysian in Britain but as a Brit in Malaysia. Sometimes it might be an alienation of never really fitting in, or it might be the appreciation for being part of two very different groups of people, or a mix of the two.
"It is an ignorant person who proudly declares a disinterest in the different life experiences of others."
Being a comedian, Phil obviously explores all of these serious topics in an amusingly wry way and occasionally covers funny topics in a serious way. But that's the life of a comedian I suppose. Gotta keep the reader on their toes.
I found his chapter on race the most thought provoking, especially when defending an old racist British sitcom from the 1970s. Again, he talks about a perspective I hadn't considered as a well meaning white lefty.
I listened to the audiobook read by Phil, as is my custom with books written by comedians, and once again I'd have to recommend it, although I can see the appeal of having his face staring at me from my bookshelf.
For anyone unfamiliar with Phil Wang, it's worth picking up for his observations about growing up a child of two worlds, they're humourous and informative.
Although to me he'll always be that hilarious dude on the Internet who woke up to Tom Hiddleston in his kitchen.
A really fascinating, funny look at how growing up with a white British mother and a Malasian father has helped shape Phil Wang's views on family, food and race among other things.
It's not a topic I've ever thought of, as a middle class white boy, so it's refreshing to get such an honest view on what it's like not only to stand out as a Malaysian in Britain but as a Brit in Malaysia. Sometimes it might be an alienation of never really fitting in, or it might be the appreciation for being part of two very different groups of people, or a mix of the two.
"It is an ignorant person who proudly declares a disinterest in the different life experiences of others."
Being a comedian, Phil obviously explores all of these serious topics in an amusingly wry way and occasionally covers funny topics in a serious way. But that's the life of a comedian I suppose. Gotta keep the reader on their toes.
I found his chapter on race the most thought provoking, especially when defending an old racist British sitcom from the 1970s. Again, he talks about a perspective I hadn't considered as a well meaning white lefty.
I listened to the audiobook read by Phil, as is my custom with books written by comedians, and once again I'd have to recommend it, although I can see the appeal of having his face staring at me from my bookshelf.
For anyone unfamiliar with Phil Wang, it's worth picking up for his observations about growing up a child of two worlds, they're humourous and informative.
Although to me he'll always be that hilarious dude on the Internet who woke up to Tom Hiddleston in his kitchen.
May 14, 2025
re: page 219 (paperback edition) footnote - yes it is and yes, I did!!!
April 22, 2025
5 stars.
I LOVED THIS. As a Malaysian Chinese who's lived in England for coming up to half my life now, I want all my friends to read this so they know what the "other half of my world" is like, he writes so well and the topics that he discusses are so relatable.
Sold from before the book proper even starts, when Wang explains what it means to be "Malaysian Chinese" (because he just does it so well, I often just get people more confused when asked, I'm going to point people who ask to his description next time) and then an entire experience of growing up basically as the foreigner wherever he goes.
I've never seen him perform live, though I did know he is a comedian, and the book comes across really well. There is a fair share of humour, as you might expect from a comedian by trade, but there is also a lot of serious stuff - and an appropriately serious tone applied. I loved that wistful tone when he talks about MH3/MH4 (though the pedant in me was screaming: "surely you need to fly both every time, independently of where you live!"), but I got the message that he was getting at so let it slide.
He talks about the feeling of never feeling like belonging, the things that he feels he misses out on, the things that he gains as a result. Which is incredibly relatable: Sometimes I look at my group of friends from school who are still really close to each other, still do stuff together all the time etc. and I get a bit envious, but at the same time I recognise I have another whole universe here in England, which includes a different group of friends with whom I am just as close. And, like Wang, I recognise I am lucky to exist in these multiple universes I suppose.
All of this brilliantly interlaced with the humorous stuff that kept the book fun and readable. The differences between his English family and his Malaysian one, and I love the way the latter is described, it almost felt as though I was back home. The frequently asked questions about all things Malaysian (no, we don't live on trees!).
I read fellow-comedian Pierre Novellie's book recently and commented that his use of footnotes drove me mad: This one also had more than I would have liked (what is with comedians and using footnotes? Wang does mention though, that Novellie is a good friend who'd proofread the earlier stages of this one so it's possible that they have a direct influence on one another), but they weren't half as frequent and at the very least typically didn't contain paragraphs of information.
I LOVED THIS. As a Malaysian Chinese who's lived in England for coming up to half my life now, I want all my friends to read this so they know what the "other half of my world" is like, he writes so well and the topics that he discusses are so relatable.
Sold from before the book proper even starts, when Wang explains what it means to be "Malaysian Chinese" (because he just does it so well, I often just get people more confused when asked, I'm going to point people who ask to his description next time) and then an entire experience of growing up basically as the foreigner wherever he goes.
I've never seen him perform live, though I did know he is a comedian, and the book comes across really well. There is a fair share of humour, as you might expect from a comedian by trade, but there is also a lot of serious stuff - and an appropriately serious tone applied. I loved that wistful tone when he talks about MH3/MH4 (though the pedant in me was screaming: "surely you need to fly both every time, independently of where you live!"), but I got the message that he was getting at so let it slide.
He talks about the feeling of never feeling like belonging, the things that he feels he misses out on, the things that he gains as a result. Which is incredibly relatable: Sometimes I look at my group of friends from school who are still really close to each other, still do stuff together all the time etc. and I get a bit envious, but at the same time I recognise I have another whole universe here in England, which includes a different group of friends with whom I am just as close. And, like Wang, I recognise I am lucky to exist in these multiple universes I suppose.
All of this brilliantly interlaced with the humorous stuff that kept the book fun and readable. The differences between his English family and his Malaysian one, and I love the way the latter is described, it almost felt as though I was back home. The frequently asked questions about all things Malaysian (no, we don't live on trees!).
I read fellow-comedian Pierre Novellie's book recently and commented that his use of footnotes drove me mad: This one also had more than I would have liked (what is with comedians and using footnotes? Wang does mention though, that Novellie is a good friend who'd proofread the earlier stages of this one so it's possible that they have a direct influence on one another), but they weren't half as frequent and at the very least typically didn't contain paragraphs of information.
May 25, 2024
Read as part of the Shelterbox Book Club:
probably more of a 3.5 but had a lot of fun with this one! phil wang balances humour with deeper topics well, and the conversations around nationality, identity and where you fit in were so fascinating. if you love a bit of phil wang, i would highly recommend!
probably more of a 3.5 but had a lot of fun with this one! phil wang balances humour with deeper topics well, and the conversations around nationality, identity and where you fit in were so fascinating. if you love a bit of phil wang, i would highly recommend!
April 22, 2024
Read as part of Shelterbox book club, I wouldn’t have normally read it as don’t usually go for memoirs but this was excellent- laugh out loud funny in some places and essential in others.
December 11, 2021
Reflections and lessons learned:
“…Being half British, half Malaysian my circumstances are noteworthy… one might even say interesting… my parents, my heritage, my cultural identity - and as the mixed race, multicultural experience is becoming more and more common with each subsequent generation of our human species, my observations of that aspect of my life is worth writing about… I think…”
I’m familiar with some of the comedy work from Wang (including watching THE Taskmaster outfit in awe and amazement…), but it wasn’t his comedy background that fully drew me to this. In my direct family, we’ve never really travelled too far from what we know as home- we’re now a bit scattered across the UK, and we have some relatives in Australia, but moving 12 miles down the road was quite anarchic at one point. In my husbands family though is quite an international mix, and having heard some sad statements about this from an older generation, I was intrigued to hear a different take, which identifies and concentrates on the positive from Wang, to inspire future generations. Quite paper bloggy/memoiry in places which is great, but it’s the informed debate split down into interesting themes that makes the consumption of this topic so easy - balanced and thoughtful, and whilst it might only be a single persons experience, it’s presented as an examined and surveyed set of views. I’ve just imagined maybe buying this for multicultural, currently young, family generations one day, but part of me hopes that much of the experience and debate will have changed again within the next 5-10 years
“…Being half British, half Malaysian my circumstances are noteworthy… one might even say interesting… my parents, my heritage, my cultural identity - and as the mixed race, multicultural experience is becoming more and more common with each subsequent generation of our human species, my observations of that aspect of my life is worth writing about… I think…”
I’m familiar with some of the comedy work from Wang (including watching THE Taskmaster outfit in awe and amazement…), but it wasn’t his comedy background that fully drew me to this. In my direct family, we’ve never really travelled too far from what we know as home- we’re now a bit scattered across the UK, and we have some relatives in Australia, but moving 12 miles down the road was quite anarchic at one point. In my husbands family though is quite an international mix, and having heard some sad statements about this from an older generation, I was intrigued to hear a different take, which identifies and concentrates on the positive from Wang, to inspire future generations. Quite paper bloggy/memoiry in places which is great, but it’s the informed debate split down into interesting themes that makes the consumption of this topic so easy - balanced and thoughtful, and whilst it might only be a single persons experience, it’s presented as an examined and surveyed set of views. I’ve just imagined maybe buying this for multicultural, currently young, family generations one day, but part of me hopes that much of the experience and debate will have changed again within the next 5-10 years
February 18, 2024
Wang starts off by making it clear: "This not a memoir". Instead, Wang has written 10 chapters passionately covering a range of topics from culture, race and class to economics, family and love.
He has done so absolute clarity of thought and oratorship.
Sure, if it was an academic paper, it would be critiqued for being a little lacking in areas. But, I was absolutely impressed by his work.
Being mixed race, he draws on his lived experiences to delve into these topics and how his "half English-Half Malaysian" life has influenced his interpretations of these. It was thoroughly interesting to hear about this upbringing, and I felt like I learnt a lot about East Asian culture; whilst also raising enough ideas/ questions to push me to self-reflect on many ideas.
Crucially, he does all of this whilst making the reader literally laugh out loud, throughout. The jokes come thick and fast, but never felt forced.
He has done so absolute clarity of thought and oratorship.
Sure, if it was an academic paper, it would be critiqued for being a little lacking in areas. But, I was absolutely impressed by his work.
Being mixed race, he draws on his lived experiences to delve into these topics and how his "half English-Half Malaysian" life has influenced his interpretations of these. It was thoroughly interesting to hear about this upbringing, and I felt like I learnt a lot about East Asian culture; whilst also raising enough ideas/ questions to push me to self-reflect on many ideas.
Crucially, he does all of this whilst making the reader literally laugh out loud, throughout. The jokes come thick and fast, but never felt forced.
January 15, 2023
To be both fascinating and funny is not an easy feat, but from Phil Wang, someone with a calm, thoughtful, nuanced and ultimately optimistic approach to the subject matter, it can be a thrill. Highly recommended.
January 14, 2025
Somehow strikes a great balance of one minute discussing the nuances of racial identity and feelings of displacement within the world, and the next minute telling a very silly and very funny anecdote. Made me laugh out loud on the tube and look like an insane person- deffo recommend as an audiobook as it is read (excellently) by PW himself !
April 24, 2025
Very enjoyable audiobook. Highly interesting. Nuanced as hell all throughout. He can sure tell a story and several very funny moments. So much so that my family were getting irritated by my headphones laughter.
September 28, 2021
I listened to this audiobook with a gifted copy courtesy of publishers Hodder Studios and as part of a Tandem Collective listenalong. This review represents my own thoughts on the book.
While author Phil Wang insists that this book is only part memoir, it is very much about his perspective as someone who was born in Britain, moved to Malaysia at just a few weeks old and then back to the UK in his mid-teens. Add to that an English mum whose own mother was French and a dad who was born in Borneo to a Chinese father and Malaysian mother, and you get a dry-witted comedian who is well placed to talk about identity and belonging.
It is books like this that work particularly well as audiobooks I think. The tone of voice and emphasis the author adds in reading brings an added dimension that would be missing in the written word. And, while with fiction I’m happy for my imagination to fill in the gaps, in non-fiction it helps to get all the additional information I can.
The book itself is an interesting look at the differences in culture between the UK and Malaysia, and how despite all the talk of multicultural societies there still seems to be a desire to pigeonhole people as coming from a particular place. And a place that fits perceptions about their name or skin colour - the where are you really from question.
Phil’s dry sense of humour comes over really well in this audiobook. It feels like he’s dealing with some quite serious and potentially contentious issues in a way which makes it safe to have the conversation. I especially like the fact that while he says he is comfortable with the ‘where are you really from’ question when it comes from a place of genuine curiosity, but he recognises that his experience and perspective is personal and that for other people there are good reasons why that question can be offensive.
A really interesting listen.
While author Phil Wang insists that this book is only part memoir, it is very much about his perspective as someone who was born in Britain, moved to Malaysia at just a few weeks old and then back to the UK in his mid-teens. Add to that an English mum whose own mother was French and a dad who was born in Borneo to a Chinese father and Malaysian mother, and you get a dry-witted comedian who is well placed to talk about identity and belonging.
It is books like this that work particularly well as audiobooks I think. The tone of voice and emphasis the author adds in reading brings an added dimension that would be missing in the written word. And, while with fiction I’m happy for my imagination to fill in the gaps, in non-fiction it helps to get all the additional information I can.
The book itself is an interesting look at the differences in culture between the UK and Malaysia, and how despite all the talk of multicultural societies there still seems to be a desire to pigeonhole people as coming from a particular place. And a place that fits perceptions about their name or skin colour - the where are you really from question.
Phil’s dry sense of humour comes over really well in this audiobook. It feels like he’s dealing with some quite serious and potentially contentious issues in a way which makes it safe to have the conversation. I especially like the fact that while he says he is comfortable with the ‘where are you really from’ question when it comes from a place of genuine curiosity, but he recognises that his experience and perspective is personal and that for other people there are good reasons why that question can be offensive.
A really interesting listen.
October 15, 2022
So funny! I really liked this book would recommend it even if you don’t know Phil. His vivid description of his life in Malaysia and his life as a mixed race kid in Britain is really interesting. And I laughed out loud a lot!
October 6, 2024
I went into this expecting traditional Phil Wang silliness and banter and I got that in spades (let him read it to you, it is worth it, I promise) but I did not anticipate how much the end of the book would truly affect me.
There is so much about this I cannot relate to and can only listen to as Wang explains his own Mixed Race experience and that is not a life I understand. Not at all - I am British, only, with the passport and everything (although at the moment it feels a bit like that is printed on kitchen towel for all its worth). However his arguments and approach are interesting viewpoints and something I appreciated.
But when he starts to discuss home and what that means when you’ve moved around, my little TCK (🤢), international school heart did a flutter because boy, did I feel like I’d had my whole life splattered onto a page (audiobook). Whilst a lot of my travels have remained on this fair isle, I have also done the stint abroad and it changed my world view completely. It also fundamentally affected my understanding of home. The question “where are you from then?” makes me shudder. And I am a white British female - it shouldn’t. But I don’t have that kind of home, not really. And listening to Phil Wang explain how he feels when his life is across the world, I felt that little bit understood and trying so hard not to be rude with my tiny appropriation of his very different lived experience (if you’ve read the book you’ll know).
Sometimes you marvel at an innocent little comedy book (not a memoir), surprised that that very clever comedian author managed to actually rock your world.
There is so much about this I cannot relate to and can only listen to as Wang explains his own Mixed Race experience and that is not a life I understand. Not at all - I am British, only, with the passport and everything (although at the moment it feels a bit like that is printed on kitchen towel for all its worth). However his arguments and approach are interesting viewpoints and something I appreciated.
But when he starts to discuss home and what that means when you’ve moved around, my little TCK (🤢), international school heart did a flutter because boy, did I feel like I’d had my whole life splattered onto a page (audiobook). Whilst a lot of my travels have remained on this fair isle, I have also done the stint abroad and it changed my world view completely. It also fundamentally affected my understanding of home. The question “where are you from then?” makes me shudder. And I am a white British female - it shouldn’t. But I don’t have that kind of home, not really. And listening to Phil Wang explain how he feels when his life is across the world, I felt that little bit understood and trying so hard not to be rude with my tiny appropriation of his very different lived experience (if you’ve read the book you’ll know).
Sometimes you marvel at an innocent little comedy book (not a memoir), surprised that that very clever comedian author managed to actually rock your world.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 28, 2021
Calling all Phil Wang fans - the dude has written a book! Essentially his musings on what it means to be mixed race in today’s world with a whole lot of funny thrown in, Sidesplitter is a thought (and chortle) provoking read. From History to nature, food to love, Wang covers his experience of life being from two very different worlds, and there is both serious discussion and laughs aplenty.
I felt like I learned a lot from listening to this and although he covers some important topics, thanks to Wang’s casual charm it never feels preachy in any way. The chapters on race and cultural appropriation are particularly interesting and made me re-evaluate some of my own feelings on the subjects. I loved his discussion on language too, particularly the fact that in China, because they’re restricted by the symbols Mandarin is made up of, they’ve had to become creative with their names for things. Kangaroos are bag rats, dolphins are sea pig and skunks are stinky weasels - and if that doesn’t encourage kids to learn other languages I don’t know what will!
I was lucky enough to be gifted the audio version of this book and if you’re looking for your next listen Sidesplitter would be an excellent choice. Wang is a fabulous narrator, no-one else could have delivered his material like he does; It made me giggle far too often, and I got a few strange looks while I was walking Ted, listening and laughing along. It’s no easy feat to mix jokes with the serious stuff, but he’s a clever guy and this is a deep but easy listen. If you’re a Phil Wang fan (like me) and if you’re into dry, self-deprecating humour (like me) you will love this book!
I felt like I learned a lot from listening to this and although he covers some important topics, thanks to Wang’s casual charm it never feels preachy in any way. The chapters on race and cultural appropriation are particularly interesting and made me re-evaluate some of my own feelings on the subjects. I loved his discussion on language too, particularly the fact that in China, because they’re restricted by the symbols Mandarin is made up of, they’ve had to become creative with their names for things. Kangaroos are bag rats, dolphins are sea pig and skunks are stinky weasels - and if that doesn’t encourage kids to learn other languages I don’t know what will!
I was lucky enough to be gifted the audio version of this book and if you’re looking for your next listen Sidesplitter would be an excellent choice. Wang is a fabulous narrator, no-one else could have delivered his material like he does; It made me giggle far too often, and I got a few strange looks while I was walking Ted, listening and laughing along. It’s no easy feat to mix jokes with the serious stuff, but he’s a clever guy and this is a deep but easy listen. If you’re a Phil Wang fan (like me) and if you’re into dry, self-deprecating humour (like me) you will love this book!
February 18, 2024
I’ve listened to this on audiobook format, read by the author. I’ve seen Phil live, and on tv of course. Yes, I find him to be funny and intelligent, and yes, this conversational style book was entertaining to read. But there’s one thing that irks me and I’ve noticed it in his live performances, his tv appearances and now this book. While he rightly addresses racism, prejudice, cultural appropriation, and gives insight as to what it is like to be of mixed race, he just can’t seem to help himself over this one thing - veganism. Phil, put your obvious gluttony aside and give it some real thought. Or at the very least, lay off. It’s getting old.
February 2, 2022
This is a nice book, I rly enjoyed reading it. It’s full of silly jokes but is also moving in Phil’s reflections on his outsider status as a mixed race person in Britain, after moving from Malaysia in his teens. The sections and chapters made it easy to dip in and out of, which I liked.
August 31, 2022
This is similar in parts to a travelogue and while I do not agree with all the points, I found this more interesting than some of the more widely read books about cultural heritage, racism and being British.
April 19, 2022
Incredibly insightful
September 17, 2023
Funny but also very informative about what it’s like to belong to 2 different cultures.
January 18, 2024
I relate to Phil’s experience of being from two worlds, being mixed myself. Very well written, and had me laughing out loud many times throughout!
May 26, 2024
Phil opines about various issues he’s encountered during his life in Malaysia and the UK with humour and aplomb. Nice!
October 26, 2022
I may be biased as an Irish Malaysian mixed race person. Never read anything that talks so directly to my family’s experience.
May 22, 2022
Just what I was after - a humorous (often genuinely loud-out-loud funny), interesting and touching not-memoir from Phil Wang, one of the funniest comedians on the scene at the moment.
Perhaps it’s my affection for Borneo that really drew me into this one, but I was glued to each listen, even looking forward to my drives and vacuuming to get a new instalment of the books.
Whilst Phil spoke a little quicker than most, it gave it a lilting character, and felt like the anecdotes and musings were really coming from him.
A 9.5 to 10/10
Perhaps it’s my affection for Borneo that really drew me into this one, but I was glued to each listen, even looking forward to my drives and vacuuming to get a new instalment of the books.
Whilst Phil spoke a little quicker than most, it gave it a lilting character, and felt like the anecdotes and musings were really coming from him.
A 9.5 to 10/10
June 17, 2024
A new perspective, learnt a bit about Borneo, the comedy/conversational style makes it an easy read, with purpose
May 20, 2022
Excellent - funny, thoughtful and widely enjoyable essays on race, travel, culture. One of the UK's and Malaysia's best comics and an all around incredibly endearing guy...
April 28, 2023
So funny, so informative, loved it! Would highly recommend. I am biased as he's my favourite comedian but there is a reason for that after all!
September 28, 2021
Really enjoyed this - listened to it as an audiobook read by Phil Wang which definitely added to it.
February 14, 2022
Eerie to have read a book sold by great British institution (Waterstones), packed with views and experiences so local to my identity. Eerie and hilariously good! This book is the first time media representation has really REALLY meant something to me (not like how Crazy Rich Asians kinda meant something to the region, because picky me thought the Hollywood casting still felt vague...). Not simply because, but probably mostly because, Phil has the same mixed blood as me, (and I mean SAME SAME if you count my recently-discovered 23&me white British), and I too spent my adulthood in the UK; but because I, can from now on, reference his chapters with lazy glee to anyone who wants an articulate and accurate explanation of my views and feelings on complex topics such as race and my cultural history, and for them to be taken seriously because they were Published In The UK (and Phil is fantastically famous!!). That's representation being useful to me. Credit and validation. Anyway, very happy about it. And I surprised myself laughing out loud throughout this hilarious book. This book was leant to me by another both Malaysian Chinese & British bestie. Phil if you're reading this: a community that looks like you now (!) thrives here and the next time you have to fly over for a wedding, we'd love to have you for a comedy show in a kopitiam (not really, we can upgrade to Starbucks for acoustics - it's 2022).
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